With the release of The (International) Noise Conspiracy's latest, Armed Love, you too can be a dancing fool. All the cool kids are doing it. 12 Stones' sound has evolved from their first album, and the results are undeniably impressive.
3 Doors Down's newest effort Seventeen Days is a bit of a disappointment. Perhaps recording one album in two and a half weeks isn't an ingenious idea after all. Indie rock never sounded so good.
Newcomers The Academy Is...
rock out on their debut album. It's worth all the hype it's getting and much much more. Acceptance puts out a hook-laden debut LP in Phantoms, but when you cut through all the gloss, it just doesn't stand up to much criticism If it's true that all real talents will eventually be discovered, Adam Fallon is destined to be a star.
Adema's self-titled album will be out in a week but Vincent Chen has an early copy of the CD. Is this new band for you? Find out inside!
I wouldn't recommend Aiden's Nightmare Anatomy if it were the last album on Earth. Stay far, far away from this CD. Does the D.
J. know that Alison Ray's musical debut is nothing short of beautiful? Alkaline Trio's sixth album, Crimson, takes the band through some radical changes.
One of my most anticipated albums of the year has arrived in The All-American Rejects' Move Along. While it doesn't earn an A+, it is a very solid sophomore album with a lot of room to build. With Before the Blackout, Allister returns to a crowded music scene.
It's the best we've heard from them, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Although Alter Bridge carries a different sound than Creed did, fans of Creed shouldn't have any trouble falling in love with this album. Teen sisters Alyson and Amanda Joy Michalka aspire beyond their pop trappings by tackling subjects relevant to their age group, though their songwriting skills need to mature.
Amber Pacific's The Possibility and the Promise is a great album. Look for this Seattle-area punk band to make waves in the future. The third album from American Hi-Fi shows a leap of musical maturity and an advanced sound.
Hearts On Parade is a solid addition to your CD collection if you love their brand of hook-laden pop-punk. This fourteen-year-old Swedish pop sensation has pulled out the Big Guns for her second release, with subtly maturing vocals still firmly ensconced in bubblegum pop. Orlando's Anberlin puts out an excellent sophomore album with Never Take Friendship Personal.
With this quality of music, I wouldn't be shocked if they really start to catch on. The Aquabats release their highly-awaited fourth album, Charge!!
, after a six-year span. Is it worth the wait? Definitely.
Even when the lyrics are not of the quality they should be, the sterling sound of his voice captivates and keeps us interested. Armor For Sleep refine their sound in this excellent concept album. Ashlee Simpson steps out of the shadow of her sister and manages to steal the limelight on her debut album, "Autobiography".
While sonically living up to their cool band name, this 9th album from Christian rockers Audio Adrenaline suffers from repetitive and simplistic lyrics. Avenged Sevenfold is back to take over your CD player on their latest album, City Of Evil. Will you fall in love with this album?
Probably? I sure did. As good as her first release was (good enough to sell over 14 million copies), "Under My Skin" displays Lavigne's tremendous growth as an artist and a person.
Moreover, it conveys her unwillingness to settle for anything less than her best. This new five CD and one DVD box set chronicles the career of one of rock's most influential bands. These songs of comfort simultaneously remind us of when we were growing up, and that, spiritually, we're still growing.
Improving on Season One's achievements, Bear McCreary expands his musical palette to complement the story complexity presented in the Sci Fi Channel hit show's second season. BTE's 2005 release Before The Robots is to little fanfare and frankly, that's what it deserves. Consisting of former members of Grade, Zyon, and New Day Rising, The Black Maria's debut falls short in almost every regard.
Even though it doesn't quite measure up to their previous release, The Bled hit near the bulls-eye with Found in the Flood. It's been more than a decade since his last album, but Bob Seger's husky vocals and straight-ahead heartland rock sensibilities are still fully on display. Personal relevance and politically-minded critiques make Face the Promise memorable, if musically it seems stuck in a time warp.
Bowling For Soup releases their best album yet, complete with the laughs and the music. Maybe Jaret Reddick should be a contestant for Last Comic Standing? Since its inception, Wind-up Records has always had a knack for discovering some of the best new talent in the music industry.
Breaking Point's sophomore release, "Beautiful Disorder", reaffirms that reputation. Bruce Springsteen re-unites with the E Street Band for their first record in nearly two decades. With the anticipation hyped up so high, Springsteen rises to meet the expectations.
This magnificent package effectively chronicles twenty-five years of raspy vocals and no-frills rock 'n' roll. Bullet Train To Vegas' debut album We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are doesn't completely impress, but down the road they look to be a formidable band. Butch Walker's Letters slipped under the radar since its August debut; it is arguably one of the better albums to be released last year, despite its relative anonymity.
Are you ready for a bona-fide album of the year contender? Well, Cartel's Chroma is definitely in the mix for that award. This stunning CD is worth a spot in your collection when it releases September 20th.
Purified is the latest in a long string of inspirational R B/Worship style albums from a woman after God's own heart. Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley's debut solo album "Grey Will Fade" has just the right amount of pop, indie, and Ash influences to make it a success. Though one of the finest live albums to come out of the 1970's, this set by the horn-infused rock band Chicago has long been derided for its poor sound quality.
That has been corrected with this remastered package which includes nearly an hour of previously unreleased performances. For being the band's first complete album of original material in over fifteen years, XXX marks the spot and is a lot better than it has any right to be. Aiken delivers a fine Christmas album that highlights his powerful voice without compromising the integrity of the music he's performing.
It's been nearly three years since Coldplay's last studio release. Judging by the first single from their forthcoming album, it's been well worth the wait. From the epic opener, "Square One," to the intimate closing track, "Kingdom Come," "X Y" is music at the peak of perfection.
Copeland returns to the indie scene with their second major LP released on Militia, titled In Motion. Is it one of the best albums of 2005? The Corrs promise a return to more traditional music with this album but still succeed in delivering a pop treat.
The Cure's breakthrough 1987 album is re-released as a 2-disc set, and finally featuring the lone orphan song that had been left out in the cold. With all the heat surrounding the Buffalo, NY band's debut album, the members are letting the music speak for itself. But is it saying enough?
While Bastards of the Beat may not be the break out album of the year, it proves that The Damnwells are just as good, if not better than, two thirds of the other bands out there. If you're a fan of classical music, or classical hymns, you will take great enjoyment partaking in this latest offering from the Great American Tenor. Indie darlings Daphne Loves Derby release an altogether enjoyable debut LP with On The Strength Of All Convinced.
Give this Seattle-area trio a chance, and you too will discover the magic that DLD reveals. Saddled with an unattractive album cover and an off-putting opening song, folk singer-songwriter Dar Williams nonetheless fruitfully explorers her better self as she continues to move beyond her folk roots into edgier musical territory. Metal never sounded so good.
Victory Records' Darkest Hour is back with their fourth album, Undoing Ruin, a disc that will punch you in the teeth and leave you wanting more. By releasing the hard-charging Inventure, Days Like These have shown they're ready to play in the big leagues. Ten incredibly beautiful songs that will likely be the soundtrack to your very dreams.
Comfortable Christians will find themselves squirming uneasily under Webb's lyrical scrutiny as he continually puts that which is Christlike up against that which is called Christianity. Although DeGarmo reaffirms the fact that she can sing as well as anyone, the material that she's given to work with is far from stellar. The quartet of brash chick-rockers releases their newest effort; will the change in style help or hurt The Donnas?
Each song on this album is good, in and of itself. The problem is in the mix -- or, more specifically, the lack thereof. All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra delivers what its packaging promises.
It's unfortunate, though, that even with 20 songs on the CD, you're still not getting the full picture. This compilation is a retrospective of her three-decade career, with tracks personally selected by Harris, confirming her place as influential songstress. Can you believe there's been no new studio album from Evan Dando since his final outing with the Lemonheads in 1996?
Apart from actually attending one of Evanescence's live shows and having a VIP backstage pass, this DVD is as good as it gets. Partly because of Lee's vocal talent, and partly because of their songs' uncompromising lyrics, Evanescence brings an undeniably distinctive sound to their music. If you're one of the many people who found themselves repeatedly murmuring "Wake me up inside" after leaving the Daredevil Movie, then--whether you know it or not--you're already addicted to the hard-driving music of the group Evanescence, a band from central Arkansas that landed two songs--"Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal"--on the superhero's soundtrack album.
The dictionary provides this definition of evanescence: the event of fading and gradually vanishing from sight. One wonders if, without some kind of breakthrough into new territory on the next album, the band might not eventually live up to its name. Chicago's pop-punk darlings Fall Out Boy are back for their third album, From Under The Cork Tree; amusing acronyms aside, will this album stand the test of time?
Raise your lighters to this throwback to the early days of metal. Texas based Flyleaf's debut album finally sees light of day, to lots of happy fans. Gradually taking a turn for a less heavy and more emocore/pop approach, Funeral For A Friend seems to have alienated some fans, however it looks to be a turn for the better.
You always know what you're going to get with a George Thorogood record, and that's a good thing. Welcome to the blues-rock party album of the summer. You may never have heard of Electronic, but you'll surely recognize the bands that birthed this moonlighting collaboration.
The Goo Goo Dolls release a CD/DVD set of one of their most riveting live performances: Independence Day in 2004, in their hometown of Buffalo, NY...
in a deluge of rain. Spiked hair, distressed music, mass hysteria..
. Good Charlotte must be releasing another album. But is it worth your while?
Griffith's message is one of determination that her troubles aren't going to stop her from enjoying life to the fullest. President Bush will definitely be removing Green Day's first album in four years from his holiday wish list. The So-Cal punk group's album carries a heavy political message, but does the music get through?
Green Day's new album strikes without warning. With Bullet in a Bible, Green Day flaunts their live performance prowess to the world. I haven't seen a better-made live release this year; go check it out.
Australia's Grinspoon gives audiences a refreshing dose of boisterous rock. It will be underappreciated, but deserves any praise it gets. Fueled By Ramen Records drops another epic album this year with Gym Class Heroes' Papercut Chronicles.
Despite a few flaws, the band's debut simply rocks. Running the gamut from mosh-frenzy to lyrically introspective, Hawk Nelson's sophomore release is a fun and frenzy filled punk-pop entry onto the music scene. Glassjaw frontman Darryl Palumbo's new side project should please most of his current fans.
The question is whether it will draw in a new audience to Head Automatica's crazy musical escapades. A Collection of Short Stories, the debut album from New Jersey's Houston Calls, is a highly-recommended CD for pop-punk fans. "Extras" is an exceptional compilation of music that reminds us of the power music can convey when written and performed by an artist with genuine talent and uncompromised artistic integrity.
Some people were born to write and perform music. Howie Day is one of those people. Rising from half of the ashes of The Movielife, I Am the Avalanche brings the aggression with their self-titled debut.
Even on a break from Something Corporate, Andrew McMahon delivers. Jackson Browne's pivotal 1977 album Running on Empty garners a re-release through Rhino Entertainment, and this is worth the money if you don't already own the album. Thematically, Banned in America is all over the map.
Goth guitars wrestle with electronic techno synthesizers and percussions. James Newton Howard is one of the few composers that rarely borrows from past projects and constantly generates music with a distinct and memorable sound. More than complementing the movie, Howard seems to have been inspired by the fable, and the score also stands on its own outside the context of its visual origins.
Weak lyrics and bad production choices undermine this album of an otherwise talented vocalist. This new posthumous compilation is a novelty gem for Deadheads, but for everyone else, it can be ignored. Heading For Mornings is Jettie's debut for us Americans, and they've shown just what we've been missing.
Developing into one of the more novel music groups of their genre, Jimmy Eat World details what the future holds with their new album. Only Fogerty and his massive ego would think to combine Creedence and solo tracks onto the same collection. The newest release of John Mayer preserves his usual style and features one truly incredible song.
The title might catch your attention, but spinning this disc is the real revelation. Steeped in '70s country-rock and Jesus Music, this musical time warp delivers a simple and unambiguous message of praise. John Ottman does John Williams proud in this rousing score for the Man of Steel's return to the big screen on this CD enhanced with video content.
John Stevens invites listeners to come fly with him on his soaring debut album. John Williams returns us to the world of the original trilogy and episode one, while telling us a story about a kid who is treading between good and evil. One part punk and one part Hanson, the Jonas Brothers are poised to take the tween scene by storm with their energenic debut release.
Zach Braff tells me I should listen. I trust his judgment, if not whole-heartedly his taste in music. This reissue of Journey's hugely successful album from 1981 adds live versions of its three biggest hits, and a quirky B-side.
Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't get away from them. All the hits are here, with a bonus track added to this reissue. British metal legends Judas Priest have released a new album, their sixteenth, to mixed response.
Do they bring back the vintage luster of the band, or is it just a derivative thrash album? With the release of If You Speak Any Faster, June has an opportunity to carve out their own spot in the overcrowded music scene. Will they succeed?
The Junior Varsity is another Victory Records project that looks to hit it big in 2005. All the components are there; the only question that remains is how much will the mainstream media love their debut album, Wide Eyed? Kai Brown's debut album Better Now is an above-average release with plenty of room for him to grow as a singer and songwriter.
Perhaps Kasabian will reach a level of greatness as their artistic talents mature, but the cumulative result of their debut effort is simply mediocre. The hottest British Import to hit music stands since Radiohead, Keane shimmers, sparkles, and shines in their debut album. Since her post-American Idol bubble gum songs, "A Moment Like This" and "Before Your Love", Kelly Clarkson's music has matured considerably.
With her latest release, "Breakaway", Clarkson adds a rock edge to her sound, producing the best results of her young career. Not only is "Hot Fuss" the easy choice for the best debut album of the year, it is also a strong contender for album of the year. One of Australia's finest rock groups releases album after hearing it, you'll wonder why they haven't made a splash in the U.
S. yet. Heaven's a lie.
Lacuna Coil said so. For Les Paul's 90th birthday, a slew of talented guitarists fashion a musical birthday present celebrating his influence on rock 'n' roll. Bittersweet and poignant -- perhaps overly so -- this release is still enough to reveal the promise in Levi Kreis.
Does lightning strike twice? That's the question posed with this second album featuring an all-star line-up of musicians familiar in Christian rock circles, as well as guest vocalists sure to please the hard rock and hair metal fan. When you're pouring old wine into new vessels like this, you can't really do anything to improve the wine so you'd be best served by dressing up the vessel as sharply as you can.
The folks at Rhino have succeeded in this aspect. Alternative radio rockers Lifehouse release their self-titled third album to even less fanfare than the past two. Does this help or hurt them?
Yup, about time I did something. What better than a review of Fred Durst and co's newest offering. The Rock N Roll Worship Circus changes their name but not their tune with this unvaried mix of songs.
I was excited to hear an album from a group that I've enjoyed for many years. After the first three or four songs, I wasn't necessarily disappointed, but I can't say that I was impressed, either. The post-grunge golden girl returns with a largely uninspiring set of songs.
Lorene Drive's debut is packed with emotion, but is it something that will stand out from the pack? The '80s were a kind decade to this Canadian rock band, and this fine compilation gathers all their U.S.
chart hits. I am fully impressed by this album, and will continue to be. This December: It's One More and I'm Free is an album that will make you fall in love with the band; my passionate love affair with Lydia is just beginning.
A fresh new sound out of California? Maybe not..
.But Matt Nathanson's new album is sure to inspire the need to just get over it in all of us. What I particularly like is the faithfulness Sweet and Hoffs exhibit toward the original artists.
While Randy Jackson may like to applaud his American Idol hopefuls for making a song their own, there's something to be said for playing a song the way the artist intended it to be played. The Mediaeval Baebes defy convention and genre, producing tunes both fresh and anachronistic. These are the classic Christmas songs you grew up with -- but you've never heard them like this before.
The fifth anniversary of the groups groundbreaking album is commemorated in this double-disc release, featuring alternate versions of I Can Only Imagine as well as commentary tracks by lead singer Bart Millard. MercyMe sets out to remind their listeners that they are, first and foremost, a rock and roll band. During his stint in the Doobie Brothers, through his successful solo career, Michael McDonald has utilized his songwriting and rich vocal talents to wed R B, Gospel, and Pop into an adult contemporary mix that proves pervasive.
This single-disc compilation draws from all periods of his three-decade career. After listening to this disc, I understand why the band includes the word "modest" in their title. With this release, they certainly have nothing to brag about.
Punk rock stalwarts MXPX are returning to the forefront of music with their latest release, Panic. Is this every bit as good as advertised? Yes, and more.
One of the great singer-songwriters of the 1990s looks back at her solo career. Bursting with enthusiasm, this hook-filled set is brimming with melodic tunes that are instantly catchy. They sound like a hundred other indie emo pop/rock bands you've heard, but dig deeper to hear a message of consistent hopefulness.
New wave rock band The Cars reform, now fronted by the legendary Todd Rundgren. This live album (plus three new tracks) proves that it's not an accident waiting to happen. Nickelback recently re-released their first ever album "Curb".
Is it worth it to re-visit Nickelback's roots? Nural's debut album, Weight of the World, released on Hopeless Records is a quality listen that may suprise many avid punk fans. Singer/songwriter/frontman Will Sheff has successfully created a 47-minute amalgam of predicaments and emotions based on folk-pop legend Tim Hardin's minute-long, forceful gem, Black Sheep Boy .
The band's appearance in the movie The Break-up will hopefully garner more attention to their music, as will this collection that is more chronological retrospective than greatest hits package. To many, Opeth is the Beatles of metal music. Will the new album Ghost Reveries provide further proof to the claim?
Two Worlds -- Disney and Broadway -- meld into one family, resulting in this largely delightful soundtrack. To realize the urgent need to take their music to a higher level, perhaps the band should reflect on the lyrics of their1997 hit, "Superman's Dead," in which they proclaimed, "Ordinary's just not good enough today." Fall Out Boy protege Panic!
At The Disco's debut, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, is a surpisingly good album, but it does have its fair share of flaws. Papa Roach releases their long-awaited 4th LP, Getting Away With Murder amid high expectations and tormented vocals. Do they succeed?
Tennessee upstarts Paramore look to hit the bigtime with their debut Fueled By Ramen release, titled All We Know Is Falling. One thing's for sure--they're going to win over a lot of fans with this CD. An undeniable result of hard work, this Cannonball may be just the shot across the bow country music needs to awaken to the distinctive talents of Pat Green.
I would have thought that, if anywhere in his music we'd seen Paul McCartney's heart, it would have been in Silly Love Songs , not in this somber faux-Mozartian drama. If this is the new state of Macca's heart, Heather must have really made a bloody mess of it. An earnest slice of acoustic guitar rock that suffers from a somnolent quality, but also exhibits a lyrically integrity worthy of a Christian album.
Covering thirteen years of musical ministry, this two-disc collection is a virtual soundtrack for vertical worship. Top of My Lungs represents the kind of praise and worship we want to be a part of, says Randy Phillips, the kind of worship that holds nothing back. Remember the days when Bret Michaels gave you something to believe in?
When you were looking for nothing but a good time? This reviewer does. Is this a good follow up to an amazing album from 1988, or an abysmal failure by a band trying to cash in on a follow up to an amazing album nearly 20 years later?
Radiohead will release "Amnesiac" their follow-up to Grammy Award Winning "Kid A." Here's a first look..
. Coming out today is the Grammy Nominated group's first album in four years. Here's my opinion, track to track.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have always been famous for revealing their bodies at concerts, but with their new album "By the Way" they now reveal their musical depth. You'll be happy to hear that Reel Big Fish's latest, We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy is another in a string of very good albums released lately Equal parts festive and entertaining, Reel Big Fish's self-released album proves to be one of the best live albums to cross my desk in a long time. This sparse album from alt-country torch-bearers Richmond Fontaine sets a mood of sadness and desolation in its eleven story songs.
A harmonic convergence of acting and music careers brought this heartthrob stardom in the '80s. This chronological collection showcases his progressive maturity in songwriting and a subtly evolving musical style that transcends his original teen idol status. Filled with one radio staple after another, this compilation showcases Flack's articulate vocals and crafty duets.
So do yourself a favor, and catch some Flack. The Rocket Summer's second album, Hello, Good Friend is an album that goes unparalleled by anything else released so far this year. The Comfort Of Home is Rufio's third full-length.
Showing maturity, they improve the themes on the new album, but find themselves falling into that same pattern of predictability as on their previous work. With his pitiful lyrics and annoyingly predictable instrumental formulas, Cabrera fails to provide listeners with any semblance of a unique artistic voice. Heavy punkers Ryan's Hope have released a gem of an album with Apocalypse in Increments.
Are you listening? Only the loud survive. As Saliva returns to their Memphis roots for their fourth studio album in seven years, one begins to wonder.
..what will they do next?
Christian singer-songwriter Sara Groves has concocted a hopeful album that invites listeners to add to the beauty of the world around them. Secret Lives of the Freemasons manage to make you dance on their first record, a hardcore-based CD that will rank up there with the top debuts of 2005. Dallas' Secret Machines have shed the underground moniker and nestled themselves into an exclusive genre of 70's rock.
Their Reprise Records EP release The Road Leads Where It's Led is good. Really good. Oh, no!
Not another band from California! Sherwood's debut LP, Sing But Keep Going, shows their maturity, personality, and musical talent. Give them a chance, and they'll have you hooked.
Canadian screamo quintet Silverstein drops their second album, Discovering The Waterfront on Victory Records. They show creative maturation from their last album, but still seem to underachieve. Take a trip in a time machine with the Philadelphia retro-rock quintet known as Silvertide.
Their debut LP, "Show And Tell", is a blast from the past, and well worth your time. MTV stalwarts Simple Plan release their second album with far less fanfare then 2002's ambitious yet flimsy LP. Will "Still Not Getting Any" live up to expectations or fall flat?
Far from falling into a stupor, Skillet continues to flex its metal muscle, while sporting a new melodic versatility that should increase their crossover appeal. Snow Patrol may be the best British band to hit American soil since Coldplay. Before landing on US soil, Snow Patrol released these two highly acclaimed LPs.
Both are jam packed with catchy, captivating songs that showcase Snow Patrol's indie-rock style. Drive-Thru's latest release, Socratic's Lunch For The Sky, fails to live up to its hype, but it isn't a total loss by any stretch. Pandora isn't a completely encouraging release from Somerset, the first artist signed to PunkNews Records.
In fact, it's a barely average album that some may like and most will hate. Since their last studio project, This Generation (2005), Sonicflood has been traveling worldwide to reach all generations to issue a call to rise up and share your faith. As they toured, they recorded -- in both audio and video.
This is the result of their labors. One Fell Swoop is another album you should take a risk on; The Spill Canvas show their true colors with their sophomore album, and I like what I'm hearing. A Static Lullaby's latest has trouble measuring up to their last album; it also has trouble measuring up to anything at all.
You've heard them in the soundtrack for John Tucker Must Die . Now catch their full-length debut. Part frenetic, part forlorn -- all fun and wholly fantastic.
That's Stefy, and that's The Orange Album. Enter the holiday season with tidings of comfort and joy with this Christmas present wrapped in sentiments of love, family and kindness focusing on the true meaning of the season. Wind-up Records has a great track record for constantly discovering terrific new talent.
One of their newest finds, Strata, is another perfect example of their commitment to sign quality new bands to their label. Straylight Run is back with 6 new songs (9 total) on their Prepare To Be Wrong EP. It is well-done and a great addition to any music lover's collection.
They're the pop duo known as t.A.T.
u. and their current single, All The Things She Said is getting more airplay every day. But is it the music, or the marketing?
Before the CD was even released, the girls were stirring up controversy with their music video. The D has led as two kings under the main-stream radar for some time now. Be warned now, The D are here and they'll rock your socks off!
Are you a fan of intelligent pop music? If the answer is yes, Like Vines is a must buy for you. The newest craze to hit America from jolly old England is The Rakes; you can now say you knew about it here first.
Their Retreat EP will give US fans a taste of their infectious dance-punk without pretentions. Not exactly a greatest hits album, what we get is more of a contractual obligation and less of a work of love. With the release of their fourth full-length, A City by the Light Divded, the members of Thursday prove they have not only returned, but reclaimed their throne over the post-hardcore world.
This project remixes his "Welcome to Diverse City" album and is a refreshing alternative to the prevailing anger that seems to permeate the hip-hop/rap genre. Contemporary Christian artist Todd Agnew couches blistering lyrics beneath a torrent of Memphis blues guitar in his sophomore release. Scarlet's Walk is a melodious compendium of songs that could only have come from the slightly skewed vision of Tori Amos.
Pick it up today and look through a different pair of somewhat mismatched eyes at the landscape we call America. Everything old is old again. But we like the old stuff--although afficionados of the magickal mystical mistress of the piano might prefer "classic.
" U2 returns to dominance with How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb: a reflective album that should appeal to most U2 fans. These rousing patriotic anthems and hymns of affirmation speak directly to the spirit. Yet another movie soundtrack that hits hard and fast, but stays true to an actual range of emotions.
Does Elektra: The Album live up to the praise of it's predecessor, Daredevil: The Album? Punk label Takeover Records releases part two of their series of 3-way split CDs involving up-and-coming artists in the industry. This one stars NearMiss, Reeve Oliver, and The Matches, and is quite a good time.
Tired of hearing the same old Christmas songs? Then this is the album for you. For any true fan of either the Broadway musical or the theatrical version, this chart topping soundtrack is a must own.
Nothing like a music retrospective of the 1990s to make you feel old. The film Chicago has been hailed and praised, recently winning the Best Picture Oscar. But the real heart of the film isn't Roxie Hart.
It's the film's music. Not only does Zach Braff, Garden State's Writer/Producer, have a film worthy of the highest recognition, but as the film's Executive Soundtrack Producer he proves once again that his irrepressible quirkiness translates across all genres. Superman's dead -- but the music of the era lives on in this eclectic mixture of rock-and-roll, blues, and big band pieces.
Featuring a veritable who's who of today's Christian artists, this collection of songs ranges from introspective melodies to power ballads, from pop to rock, all with one central theme in mind: Narnia. This gnarly package of rad music collects eighteen chart-toppers from the decade of excess though it's a little light on bitchin' rock tunes. A classical music sampler, with a few diversions, this soundtrack's listening experience can be greatly enchanced by using Scarlett Johansson as a visual aid.
A solid collection of singer-songwriters deliver an alternative-pop/rock selection of songs with hints of folk, psychedelia and blues. Just in time for this summer's movie comes this compilation from Rhino, designed to carry you up, up and away with covers and new creations from some of today's hottest, hippest artists. Leave your Christmas cheer at home; Taste of Christmas really doesn't bring the joy.
The headaches on the other hand...
Veda may intrigue listeners, but do they have what it takes to keep them listening? All aboard the S.S.
Weezer on a trip to an island in the sun! William Hung, of American Idol notoriety, returns to the stage with a Christmas EP. Luckily, he's not covering any Ricky Martin this time around.
Come along on a magical mystery tour with the longest running band you've never heard of before. Help the Breast Cancer Site while you enjoy some great songs from the past decade of female superstars. Former pop-songstress Michelle Branch collaborates with best friend Jessica Harp, and the results sound like apolitical Dixie Chicks.
Before Ryan Key, Yellowcard was a lot heavier and less made-for-MTV. That is most evident on their 1999 release Where We Stand, which is being reissued this year by Takeover Records. Unfortunately, it's not really a worthwhile reissue.
News RSS